Task team to probe Agang SA account

Politics / 18 June 2014, 4:32pm

SAPA

572
Dr Mamphele Ramphele answers questions from the floor regarding her relationship with Helen Zille and the DA during a media briefing at Agang SA's office in Braamfontein. The party also announces that it will contest the 2014 elections as an independent party with her as their presidential candidate.
030214. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Johannesburg - A task team will investigate alleged irregularities involving a bank account opened to receive an IEC refund, Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele said on Wednesday.

The team had to propose solutions in a comprehensive report to be submitted to Ramphele by July 19.

It would assess Agang's “leadership capacity” and identify capable leaders who added value to the party. Ramphele would announce members of the team on Friday.

She said the team would be made up of members, volunteers and supporters in good standing who had insights into the party's strengths and weaknesses.

In the past two weeks, Agang SA members had been embroiled in internal disputes and factionalism over the account, which led to the party's national executive committee being dissolved.

Ramphele said a disciplinary process began on Tuesday against five party members for various charges.

“We will be providing more details related to the disciplinary charges at the appropriate time,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Agang SA spokesman Philip Machanick said Ramphele received a lawyer's letter from anonymous national executive committee members demanding they be reinstated into their positions.

Machanick said Ramphele dissolved the executive because it was dysfunctional and failed to carry out basic duties.

Last week, Ramphele and the party's chairman Mike Tshishonga opened separate fraud cases with police over the bank account opened to receive a refund from the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC), believed to be around R200 000.

Earlier in the week, The New Age reported that Tshishonga accused Ramphele of having direct access to party funds, and that she opened the account to access the IEC deposit without a mandate from the party.

Tshishonga claimed his signature appeared on the bank account's paperwork without his knowledge.

On Friday night, Ramphele warned that members who tarnished her image in the media would be suspended. She criticised members involved in factionalism.

On Sunday, a meeting was held in Johannesburg by a faction of the party to cast a vote of no confidence in Ramphele.

Machanick said a Gauteng branch of the party was behind accusations against Ramphele.